SBS input for ReMake Value Retention Centre
Academics at Strathclyde Business School will be playing a key role in a £5.5 million centre which aims to support the transition to net zero while driving substantial UK economic impact.
The new ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC) will be located within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the University of Strathclyde - the operator of NMIS, in partnership with the University of Exeter and the University of Sheffield. The centre is funded through UKRI’s ‘Accelerating the Green Economy’ programme.
While much of the focus around net zero has been on the transition to renewable energy sources, nearly 45% of global CO2 emissions come from what we make and use. In sectors such as energy and transport around 70% of emissions are locked in during raw materials extraction and initial processing meaning that it’s essential to extend product life for as long as possible to maximise value while preserving the earth’s precious resources.
The RVRC will focus on ‘high integrity’ sectors critical to national infrastructure including aerospace, marine, wind, nuclear, industrial and power generation. It will adopt a system-wide approach, addressing challenges through business models, policies, standards, culture, skills, and investment along with metallic and composite based circular manufacturing technology and inspection processes.
Partnering with organisations from the private, civic and public sectors, the new centre will explore how components such as aeroplane structures, energy systems and industrial equipment can be reused or remade, aiming to keep products at their highest value instead of sending them to landfill.
Professor Lesley Walls, Professor Matthew Revie and Dr Euan Barlow from the Department of Management Science will be leading research on the analysis of risk to inform decisions taken under uncertainty associated with the deployment of ReMake technologies and processes to enable increased adoption.
Meanwhile, Professor Jill MacBryde, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation, will lead work on accelerating investment and commercialisation. Along with colleagues from other parts of Strathclyde - including the Hunter Centre and the Industry and Engagement team – SBS researchers will be looking to leverage existing ecosystems and build new ones to accelerate commercialisation and investment in ReMake high integrity applications.
Professor Walls said, “This is an exciting interdisciplinary project where SBS academics will create novel frameworks to support evidence-based ReMake decisions to develop substantial impact with high value manufacturing organisations and drive sustainability by shaping value retention strategies across the sector.”
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University Strathclyde, said, "The establishment of the ReMake Value Retention Centre is a significant milestone for the UK’s journey to net zero. This centre will bring critical circular economy practices to the forefront of manufacturing, helping to reduce waste, cut emissions, and create sustainable, high-value jobs across Scotland and the UK.
"By pioneering reuse, repair, and remanufacture in sectors essential to our national infrastructure, we are not only addressing urgent environmental challenges but also securing economic resilience for the future. This investment underscores the power of collaboration across academia, industry, and government to drive meaningful change on a national and global scale."
Published: 5 December 2024
